The Man Leading The Atlanta Hawk’s Rebuild Is Preaching Defense

Pierce crafted his game by playing amongst some of the best players in the Bay Area

As a kid, the San Jose native was a regular at Cherry Park, the city’s famed proving ground for up-and-coming players. Marc Spears of The Undefeated described 14-year-old Pierce as a “quiet and athletic” kid who often played against older players. The kid, known by peers as “LP,” started as a freshman at Yerba Buena High School. Pierce went on to win the Mount Hamilton Athletic Conference’s Player of the Year award during his senior season in 1994.